Canon EOS R Reviews & Specifications

With a 30MP sensor, fantastic color reproduction and on-sensor autofocus, the EOS R can produce some beautiful photographs with pinpoint-accurate focus. But it’s Canon’s first mirrorless full-frame camera, and in many ways, it shows. The ergonomics feel unfinished, and for the same or less money, you can find better video, more dynamic range and faster burst speeds elsewhere. But we have to admit that Canon’s new RF lenses are simply spectacular, and at this time, the EOS R is the only way to get to use them.

Capable, customisable, but compromised. The Canon EOS R is a great proof of concept, with fantastic features such as the new Control ring and M-Fn Bar, and offers tangible upgrades to existing EF and EF-S lenses. While it compares well to a DSLR, though, its cropped 4K, restricted 60 and 120fps, and lack of in-body image stabilisation place it firmly behind Sony and Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless bodies, and now it faces competition from the cheaper EOS RP, too.

By itself, the Canon EOS R is a very nice camera. It feels great in the hand, it’s compact, it offers solid weather-sealed construction, and it takes excellent photos and very good 4K video. But it’s not a ground-breaking camera. Perhaps future EOS R models will bring more exciting features to the table. Right now, the EOS R feels somewhat limited, especially when it comes to performance. And some of the design choices feel under-utilized or downright confusing or awkward.

The Canon EOS R is a welcome addition to the full-frame mirrorless market but a camera that will polarise opinions, impressing in some regards, but disappointing in others.

The EOS R is Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera and heralds an all-new lens mount system. As the first batch of lenses show, it’s loaded with potential to produce beautiful, sharp images and video. The camera itself is a bit disappointing, though. It feels great in hand, and you can definitely take fabulous photos with it. However, 4K video is crippled by a 1.8x crop, 30 fps max shooting speed and bad rolling shutter. On top of that, it lacks in-body stabilization, putting it at a disadvantage to rival models from Sony and Nikon. It’s not a bad first effort, but Canon must up its game for the next model.

The Canon EOS R is a very capable camera, and should satisfy many EOS DSLR owners looking for a solid mirrorless alternative. If we weren’t bound by a system, however, it would be hard to pick the EOS R over its rivals, especially when you consider the price premium over the likes of the excellent Nikon Z6 or Sony Alpha A7 III. Things could well change with the next model though, when Canon has had the opportunity to smooth out a few rough edges.

All in all, the Canon EOS R is one of the most thorough first-generation cameras we’ve ever used.

Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R, offers strong image quality and autofocus, but is held back by its ergonomics and video system.

A successful entry in the rapidly growing team of full-frame mirrorless cameras, if not the most complete in this class

A good first attempt, but it doesn’t blow us away – Canon will need to up its game for the next iteration of the R series

This is a cracking debut on the mirrorless camera market for Canon. It won’t be a camera for every professional out there – not enough body controls, frames per second and battery life – but for enthusiasts who simply want the very best image quality, it has to make the shortlist. That high-resolution sensor simply drinks in light, while the Canon 24-105mm f/4 RF-mount lens is deeply impressive.

Ultimately the Canon EOS R isn’t as DSLR-like as the Nikon Z7 and isn’t as well-specced as the Sony A7 III, but it’s definitely good enough to satisfy current Canon owners and newbies alike, and therefore to stem the recent flow of Canon’s prosumer base to Sony. We’re more excited about what the next Canon EOS R model will look like, but in the meantime, this one will more than do…

All in all, the Canon EOS R feels much more like a dress rehearsal for the RF mount and its compelling potential than a camera meant to take on the best mirrorless offerings on the market.

It’s clear that the Canon EOS R is a very capable camera. In the right hands, it captures plenty of detail with good exposure and attractive colours.

I genuinely didn’t think I’d like the Canon EOS R, but I bought one not only for business reasons, but because I actually like it.

The Canon EOS R delivers a competent package, with great image quality, with a high quality 24-105mm f/4L lens, however there are a few design choices that will frustrate some, such as only one SD card slot, and heavily cropped 4K video recording.

The EOS R isn’t what I expected Canon’s inaugural mirrorless full-frame camera to be. I thought it would produce a miniaturized 5D Mark IV, but instead Canon has made an advanced EOS M.